4 Tips to Having an Amazing End to Senior Year

This article was originally written for Fresh U by Rachael Rosenthal. It has been given minor edits before re-posting.

During senior year of high school, I really struggled with the year ending. Not because I loved high school, but because I didn’t know how I was supposed to feel. I was sad to leave my friends and boyfriend, but I was so ready for a change–or so I thought. The truth is, I spent more time anxiously awaiting leaving for school and not enough time appreciating my time at home. I was constantly stressing about my room decorations, my classes, and how I was going to make new friends. As I near the end of my second semester of my freshman year of college, I wish I did a few things differently back then. So to the incoming freshman class: here are a few things to keep in mind as your final days of high school are nearing an end.

1. Plan as many fun things with your friends as you can.

This is the last time you and all your friends will be in the same place for the same amount of time. College breaks are different and you’ll see how quickly they go by. Take your senior year summer to spend endless amounts of time together. You’ll miss those days, and those friends, so soon.

2. Accept that your friends are going to have new friends and different experiences.

As you are being added to new group chats, going to meet-ups, and planning your first tailgate outfits, it can be easy to forget that your friends are doing the same thing. The first instinct is to be jealous but keep in mind the best friends are the ones that can maintain old friendships while making new ones. Every college is different, and their weekends may look different than yours, so just remember that your friends are allowed to grow in college and may seek different experiences with different types of people.

3. Start thinking about when you can visit friends and when you can come home.

Semesters go by quickly and you’ll see how inconvenient it is to try to plan flights while you’re at school. Look at the calendar now and see when you may want to come home or go visit a friend. It’s so worth it. With only a few weeks left in my semester, I have yet to go to another school to visit my friends and I really wish I had taken the time to see my people.

4. Relax while you can.

This is probably the first summer since you were little that you have no obligations; no math packets, no summer reading lists, and no dread about going back to school after two short months. College is a whole new lifestyle and although it’s hectic, it’s a great change of pace. Before you jump into the craziness, try your best to put the stress and anxiety aside and focus on being home relaxing with all your closest friends around the corner. Everything’s familiar, which you won’t be able to say for a little while once you step outside your high school bubble.

College has such a build up. There’s the stress of applying, the anticipation of waiting to hear back, and the indecisiveness in choosing which school is the right fit. But now all that is over. It’s time to chill before you jump into the craziness of college.